Things to do in Yongchang
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Top 10 attractions in Yongchang
Liqian Ancient City
Liqian Ancient City is located at the Liqian Ruins in Zhelaizhai Village, Yongchang County. It is a square castle structure that mainly includes a restored ancient city, Roman-style residences, a Roman temple, a Roman street, and a Roman square. The core building of the ancient city is a Roman-style Pantheon. Surrounding the main building is a city wall that is 300m long, 10m wide, and 5.6m high. The wall has four gate towers on its four sides and four corner towers at its four corners, with the interior of the wall used as housing. In 53 BC, Crassus, the Roman consul, gathered the forces of seven legions to invade Parthia (in present-day Iran) and was ambushed and annihilated at Carrhae. After Crassus's eldest son Publius broke out with the First Legion, he suddenly vanished without a trace. Two thousand years later, this ancient Roman army was suddenly discovered in Gansu, China. Thislong-standinghistorical mystery became the origin and development opportunity of the ancient city. It is said that the ancient city was built according to historical records. The entire ancient city is a temple (Golden Mountain Temple). At its center is a Roman temple with 5 golden domes. Classic Roman stone columns, Catholic cross patterns on the exterior walls, church-style stained glass windows, and bronze doors carved with scenes of ancient Romans and bodhisattvas. Various elements are fully blended here.Yongchang · 11.7km from downtown
Wudang Mountain
Yongchang · 3.1km from downtown
Mars Base 1
Mars Base 1, located in Jinchang City, Gansu Province, has Gobi landforms, red rock bodies and other significant landforms and natural conditions that are very similar to those on Mars. It is guided and built by the China Astronaut Research and Training Center and the China Aerospace Science and Technology International Exchange Center. It is an immersive real-life experience base with a Mars theme. It uses multiple innovative methods to truly restore the simulated living environment of astronauts on Mars through Mars survival scene simulation and science fiction landscaping. Relying on the Martian landform scene and the core content of aerospace, the base has created a variety of research and popular science projects, entertainment activities, themed accommodation and Dining, and aerospace cultural experience projects.Jinchang · 24.4km from Yongchang
Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot
Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot is located in Linze and Sunan counties at the northern foot of Qilian Mountain. The attraction is 40 km east of Zhangye city and 20 km north of Linze county. Covering a total area of 50 sq km with 4 sq km accessible to visitors, it's currently recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The attraction features seven viewing spots, including Colorful Cloud Sea, Colorful Fairyland, Colorful Splendor, Colorful Rainbow Glow, Crouching Tiger Gorge, Colorful Ao River, and Wanxiang Earth Forest Valley, along with over 30 scenic views such as Dragon Playing with Fire (colorful hills), Monkey Gazing at the Sea, Turtle Asking the Sky, Golden Toad Seeking the Way, Giant Scallop, Colorful Screen, Sleeping Beauty, and Crouching Tiger. It is a highly integrated area of colorful hills and Danxia landforms. The colorful hills amaze visitors with their vibrant hues, intricate layered patterns, majestic scale, and breathtaking vistas. The Danxia landform area of Wanxiang Earth Forest Valley features towering peaks resembling a forest, with a harmonious yet dramatic arrangement of sparse and dense formations. These extraordinary shapes, carved by nature's artistry, combine grandeur, peril, wonder, elegance, and serenity in one spectacular landscape. After being promoted to a national 5A-level attraction and global geopark, Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot aims to become an international travel destination. By deeply exploring and optimizing regional cultural resources, the scenic spot will leverage its unique tourism assets and cultural heritage to transform into a western China-based international resort with scientific research appeal. Centered around colorful hills and Danxia landforms, it highlights the aesthetic and scientific value of geological resources while prioritizing their protection and development. The composite attraction primarily offers geological sightseeing and recreation, complemented by cultural experiences, folk customs, and leisure vacations.China · Zhangye
Shengrong Pagoda
Shengrong Temple Pagoda is located in Jinchang City, Gansu Province. It is a well-preserved Tang Dynasty pagoda building. There are two large and small towers, facing each other across the valley. The plane of the big tower is square, and it is a square seven-level dense eaves hollow brick tower;Yongchang · 10km from downtown
Shapotou Scenic Area
The scenic spot is located 16 kilometers west of Zhongwei City, Ningxia, on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. The scenic spot has successively won honors such as "the first batch of national 5A-level tourist attractions", "the top 500 global environmental protection units", and "the first batch of national tourism standardization demonstration units". The three major cultural elements of the scenic area include the "Yellow River Culture" based on the intangible cultural heritage sheepskin rafts, the "Desert Culture" based on straw grids and Desert Legend Park, and the "Starry Sky Culture" based on the Desert Star Hotel. The tourism resources of these three elements have created a unique and magnificent landscape of "sunset over the long river and starry sky in the desert". The "six major ways to play" are highly praised and loved by tourists. Among them, the Yellow River projects include sheepskin rafting, Huangtengda, Yellow River speedboat, drift boat, passionate sandboarding and high-altitude bungee jumping, etc. The desert projects include Desert Camel, Desert Flying (Stepping into the Blue Clouds), and Sand Sea. Surfing, etc., starry sky projects include stargazing lectures, meteor feasts, sand therapy experiences, star cakes and other special products. In addition, there are also privately customized products for hiking, desert expansion, and educational and entertaining study experiences. The scenic area not only has diverse cultural elements and fun project experiences, but also multi-level accommodation experiences waiting for you: the butler-style Diamond Hotel, the quiet Desert Star Hotel for stargazing, the quiet Yellow River Courtyard in the bustling city, and finally the economical and affordable business-style Tourist Service Center Hotel and other differentiated tourist accommodations for you to choose from.China · Zhongwei
Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum
Qinghai Tibetan Culture MuseumIt is a comprehensive museum themed on Tibetan medicine culture and featuring Tibetan culture.Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum(also known as Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum) is located in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It officially opened in September 2006. The museum has basically formed a "one museum with two halls" layout, featuring 16 exhibition halls including the Silk Road and Tibetan civilization, the grand view of Chinese Tibetan art painting, and the history of Tibetan medicine.Qinghai Tibetan Culture MuseumThe collection is rich, historic, and diverse, possessing high historical, scientific, and artistic value. The museum houses the Guinness World Record-holding thangka masterpiece, "The Grand Thangka of Tibetan Culture and Art," which is 618 m long. It was planned by renowned thangka master Zongzhe Lajie and completed by 400 painters over four years. Its content encompasses the Tibetan understanding of the universe, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, history, religion, medicine, culture, art, and folklore. With its intricate details and brilliant colors, it is a magnificent sight and can be called an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture, hailed as a "contemporary national treasure." Through four major series—ancient books and documents, Tibetan medical thangkas, ancient Tibetan medical instruments, and Tibetan material specimens—the museum comprehensively displays the long history, profound theoretical system, clinical practice, and unique preparation techniques of Tibetan medicine, with four ancient books included in the National Catalogue of Precious Ancient Books. The Silk Road and Qinghai-Tibet Civilization exhibition hall uses history as its temporal dimension and the vast plateau landscape as its geographical dimension. Through thousands of precious cultural relics such as silk, gold and silver ware, and coffin paintings, it highlights Tibetan cultural elements and showcases the origin, inheritance, rise, and prosperity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau civilization throughout the long river of history. The Tibetan carpet exhibition hall is one of the largest exhibitions of ancient carpets in China, displaying more than 400 Tibetan carpet artifacts from different periods and eras, featuring magnificent patterns, intense colors, and unique ethnic styles and local characteristics. At the same time, there are also Tibetan-style architectural exhibition halls, Tibetan calligraphy art exhibition halls, as well as temporary exhibition halls, multimedia screening rooms, academic lecture halls, and cultural relic storage rooms, providing strong capabilities for inheritance, protection, and research, as well as conditions for cultural exchange.Qinghai Tibetan Culture MuseumIt will continuously improve the level of cultural relic preservation, exhibition design, scientific research, and management operations, becoming a platform for promoting ethnic unity and social development, a broad stage for cultural dissemination and academic exchange, a research center for cultural relic protection and Tibetan studies, and an exhibition center for treasured literature and collections, showcasing the splendid civilization and culture of the Tibetan Plateau to the world.China · Xining
Kumbum Monastery
Kumbum Monastery is one of the important monasteries of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Hat sect. The monastery features magnificent architecture, abundant treasures, and a strong religious atmosphere, making it one of the more popular travel destinations in Xining. Overview of the visit It has distinct differences in architectural layout compared to Han Chinese Buddhist temples in inland China: the complex here is not symmetrically arranged along a central axis. The monastery is an ancient architectural complex composed of numerous halls, scripture halls, stupas, and colleges, with each sutra hall, main hall, and stupa irregularly distributed on a small hill. Travelers can explore the site in a relatively free manner rather than following a straight path along a central axis. The Great Golden Roof Hall of Kumbum Monastery is the center of the entire architectural complex. It is said that Master Tsongkhapa was born here, and when he was born, his umbilical cord blood dripped on this spot, from which a bodhi tree grew. Later, a stupa was built around the tree, and a monastery was constructed, hence the name. Believers hold that this tree and stupa are the embodiment of the master. The three unique features of the attraction: butter sculptures, murals, and appliqué embroidery. Butter sculptures are made by mixing butter with various pigments to mold and carve into figures of Buddhas, people, flowers, birds, animals, and pavilions. Travelers can admire exquisite butter sculptures at the butter sculpture hall inside the temple (located far from the main gate). Vibrant centuries-old murals can be appreciated in the main halls, corridors, and front galleries of the temple. Appliqué embroidery involves cutting colored satin into desired shapes, such as Buddha figures or animals, stuffing them with wool or cotton, and embroidering them onto cloth hangings. In the temple's great sutra hall, two rare large appliqué embroidery pieces—"Sixteen Arhats Displaying Divine Powers" and "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea"—hang on either side. The four major religious festivals (based on the lunar calendar): 1. Cham dance (14th day of the first month) and butter sculpture exhibition (15th day of the first month); 2. Cham dance (14th day of the fourth month), Buddha unveiling, and Cham dance (15th day of the fourth month); 3. Buddha unveiling, Cham dance (6th day of the sixth month), and golden Buddha procession (8th day of the sixth month); 4. Full-day Buddha unveiling (22nd day of the ninth month) and Cham dance (23rd day of the ninth month). During these festivals, activities like Buddha unveiling and ritual dances take place, attracting large crowds of devotees and travelers, creating a lively atmosphere.China · Xining
Qilian Mountains Binggou River Scenic Area
Chairlong lake, at an altitude of 4,008 m, is a sacred natural alpine lake in the Qilian mountains with high elevation and vast area. The lake water, formed by melting snow from the mountains, displays emerald, azure and other colors as the light changes. Backed by the majestic Anigangar snow mountain, the landscape resembles a heavenly pool on earth. The round-trip hiking route is approximately 20 km, featuring wooden walkways and the Hero's slope viewing platform along the way. Successful summiters can receive a dedicated climbing certificate. The entire trail remains pristine with well-preserved natural features, accompanied by meadows, unique rocks and wild flowers, free from excessive commercial development. It's ideal for outdoor hiking enthusiasts and travelers seeking unspoiled natural scenery, offering pure and healing alpine views. The vast native alpine meadow bursts into bloom with purple iris flowers around the Dragon Boat Festival each year, creating a stunning visual spectacle across the wilderness. Gentle wooden boardwalks extend deep into the floral expanse, where cattle and sheep graze leisurely while wild marmots occasionally appear, all framed by distant rolling green mountains under expansive skies. During non-blooming seasons, the lush grassy fields serve as ideal spots for leisurely walks, picnics and aerial photography. With its flat terrain requiring no strenuous climbing, the attraction is easily accessible for seniors and children alike. At sunset when golden light blankets the grassland, the atmosphere becomes magical, making it a prime location for travel photography and camping throughout the year, with each season offering distinct pastoral landscapes. Vast stretches of pristine spruce and juniper forests form alpine woodlands, with wooden boardwalks winding along mountain streams. The area boasts exceptionally high negative oxygen ion levels, earning its reputation as a natural wellness oxygen bar. In spring and summer, lush greenery shades the paths accompanied by babbling brooks and constant birdsong. Come fall, the mountains transform into a breathtaking tapestry of red and gold hues. The interconnected canyons and forest sea provide continuous shade, shielding visitors from summer heat while offering soothing walks. The thriving ecosystem frequently rewards travelers with squirrel sightings and encounters with mountain birds. With gentle slopes suitable for all ages, it's an ideal destination for leisure, relaxation and rejuvenation. Nimela Grand Canyon, meaning "valley of the sun" in Tibetan, boasts unique wonders like "June glaciers with flowers blooming on ice." Glacial streams surge endlessly through the canyon, flanked by rugged rock formations where primitive spruce trees and alpine rhododendrons grow in harmony. A gentle wooden walkway runs the entire length, making for effortless exploration. Legend says this was the habitat of the three-legged golden crow, with dense forest vegetation and abundant negative oxygen ions. With an average summer temperature of just 18°C, it's a natural cool retreat. Afternoon mist often creates rainbows arching across the canyon, offering picturesque views at every step. Combining refreshing air, wilderness charm, and unique glacial landscapes, it's a hidden gem for light hiking. Princess Honghua ranch is the historical site where Princess Honghua of the Tang dynasty once herded livestock. On the vast and gentle alpine meadows, prayer flags flutter in the wind amidst scattered Tibetan tents and herds of yaks, immersing visitors in the rich Huari Tibetan culture. The location offers expansive views with a complete panorama of the Ani Gangkar snow mountain, complemented by cultural activities like Tibetan costume photography and butter-making workshops. Adjacent to the Malanhua grassland and the starting point of Tianchi hiking trails, it serves as an ideal resting spot during travels. At dusk, the setting sun bathes the entire meadow in warm golden hues, while the night sky remains unpolluted by light, providing excellent stargazing conditions. Blending millennia of history, grassland scenery and Tibetan folk customs, the site harmoniously combines cultural heritage with natural beauty. The Aniganggar snow mountain is the main peak of the eastern Qilian Mountains, standing at 4,874 m with perennial snow and crisscrossing glaciers, serving as the source of the entire Binggou River water system. The majestic mountain features alternating ice cliffs and bare rocks, shrouded in year-round mist, exuding a sacred and grand plateau aura. The hiking trail to Chairlonghai Tianchi offers a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountain, with golden sunlight covering the summit during sunrise and sunset, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Meltwater from the mountain flows down the valleys, forming streams that nourish grasslands, forests, and lakes, completing the ecological network of the attraction. As the iconic landmark of this hidden paradise, it presents unique charm in every season and is a must-visit destination for photography enthusiasts. The sea of azaleas is located on the mountainside of the Nimela Gorge, serving as a seasonal attraction in spring and summer. Every June, while remnants of ice still linger in the mountains, vast stretches of alpine azaleas bloom in competition, with clusters of pink-purple and white flowers dotting the evergreen pines and glacial rivers, creating a unique scene where ice and blossoms coexist. The gentle trail is easy to walk, allowing close-up appreciation of the floral branches and distant views of the gorge streams and faraway mountains. With few visitors, the area offers a tranquil escape from crowded hotspots. The floral sea, framed by glaciers and forests, provides rich compositional layers, making it ideal for capturing mountain portraits and stunning landscape shots. This hidden gem is a niche viewing spot, only accessible during the blooming season, making it highly time-sensitive. The great khan's camp is a 1:1 restoration of the Tuyuhun royal camp, faithfully replicating ancient nomadic tents, living utensils, and nomadic scenes to recreate the grassland lifestyle during Princess Honghua's marriage alliance period. The camp displays nomadic artifacts and historical exhibition panels, detailing the millennium-old stories of the Hexi Tuyuhun tribe and Princess Honghua, combining educational value with visual appeal. Located near Princess Honghua's ranch, it offers a convenient stop after exploring the grasslands, providing an immersive experience of ancient nomadic civilization. Unlike purely natural views, it adds profound cultural depth to your itinerary, making it ideal for family-friendly educational trips and history enthusiasts. The Shili gallery is a gentle mountain trail connecting Honghua ranch and Nimeila canyon, featuring minimal elevation changes. Along the way, it unfolds meadows, streams, and pristine pine forests, presenting ever-changing views like a flowing landscape painting. Multiple viewing platforms along the route unlock panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains, flower fields, and forests with unobstructed sightlines. The entire trail is easy to walk with minimal physical exertion, perfect for leisurely strolls and spontaneous photo stops. Linking two core scenic areas, it serves both as a transit route and an independent attraction, offering richly layered landscapes and exceptional touring comfort throughout. Hidden deep in the Qilian forest lies Banmu Fangtang, a tranquil pond with a mirror-like surface that perfectly reflects the surrounding spruce trees, wildflowers, and distant mountains, blending the landscape and its reflection into a serene, healing scene. Encircled by dense woods that block out the outside noise, this secluded spot remains peaceful with few visitors, making it a hidden gem to escape the crowds. The forest trail passes by here, offering a brief stop to capture atmospheric photos of the water reflections, with soft and elegant lighting. Free from bustling crowds, it's ideal for solitary relaxation and quiet photography, allowing you to fully appreciate the quiet beauty of the forest. This underrated waterside spot is a must-visit highlight along the forest route.Tianzhu · 67.7km from Yongchang
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park is a key cultural tourism project in Gansu Province and a comprehensive cultural tourism initiative prioritized by the Lanzhou Municipal Committee and Government. Located by the Yellow River, the park is just 13 km from downtown Lanzhou and 30 km from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, making it one of the closest Danxia landform clusters to a major urban center in China. With a total planned area of 400 sq km and a core visiting area of 25 sq km in its first phase, it ranks among the largest discovered landscapes of its kind in the country. The park primarily features red mountain bay formations, along with spectacular Danxia cliffs, isolated peaks, secluded valleys, narrow gorges, and balancing rocks. Its colorful mountains set against winding waterways create a masterpiece of Danxia landform scenery. The attraction features seven viewing platforms showcasing the Danxia landforms: Silk Road Glow, Silk Road Eagle, Flying Apsaras Exploration, Nine-Colored Danxia, Danxia Reflecting Sky, Emerald Peaks Rippling Sky, and Danxia Summit Scenic View. It also includes the Ancient Silk Road Gateway, Shajing Tribe Cultural Square, Desert Bells Scenic Boulevard, and a 2,550m Danxia boardwalk viewing area. As a key cultural tourism project in the province, Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park adheres to the principles of "ecological protection, green development, preserving original features, and moderate development." Leveraging Lanzhou's unique resource advantages and focusing on the domestic tourism market, it aims to cultivate new growth drivers for Lanzhou's cultural tourism industry and establish a new highland for cultural tourism in the city.China · Yongdeng
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Free things to do in Yongchang
Liqian Ancient City
Yongchang · 11.7km from downtownWudang Mountain
Yongchang · 3.1km from downtown
Gansu Provincial Museum
China · Lanzhou
Tengger Desert
China · Alxa Left Banner
Lanzhou Old Street
China · Lanzhou
Zhongshan Bridge
China · Lanzhou
Qilian Mountain Grassland
Qilian · 96.3km from Yongchang
Mt. Gangshika Scenic Area
Menyuan · 79.4km from Yongchang
Tengger Desert
China · Zhongwei
Wuwei Kumarajiva Temple
Wuwei · 66.7km from Yongchang
What travellers say about Yongchang
SyP9313630822 February 2026
5.0
The ancient city of Liqian in Yongchang County was a truly amazing experience. The overall architectural style is reminiscent of ancient Rome, and the original inhabitants have distinct physical characteristics that are different from those of other Chinese people. It was a very worthwhile experience!
Liqian Ancient City
宜泽053518 January 2025
5.0
It's a very good attraction. My children like it very much. It's quite far from the city. However, the scenery on the road is a bit like Mars because it's a very desolate road. I read the reviews at the beginning, but in the end I think it's not bad, mainly because my children like it.
Mars Base 1
M29***9626 October 2026
5.0
The Rainbow Mountains, like a palette of colors on earth, are a breathtaking masterpiece of nature, with their interwoven layers shimmering with light and color. The changing hues under the light of dawn and dusk reveal a gentle beauty amidst the grandeur. This trip was truly worthwhile and I'd love to come back again.
Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot
D10***985 September 2022
4.0
It is free but not open to the public. You can climb the mountain opposite to see the view.
Shengrong Pagoda
M2e***xp28 October 2026
5.0
Family, anyone understand?! This trip was absolutely amazing! The scenery was breathtaking, every corner a surprise and a moment of romance. The staff were incredibly welcoming, and the value for money was incredible. I wanted to go crazy for it!
Shapotou Scenic Area
李贾出走27 October 2026
5.0
When visiting Xining, it's not just about seeing Qinghai's lakes and mountains; I also dedicated some quiet time to the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum. This national first-class museum is divided into north and south sections. The south section showcases a wide range of folk customs, while the north section focuses on Tibetan medicine, quietly housing the millennia-old civilization of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Taking the elevator directly to the fourth floor, I immediately encountered the museum's crown jewel—"A Grand View of Chinese Tibetan Culture and Art Painting." This 618-meter-long giant Thangka is the world's longest hand-painted Thangka, certified by Guinness World Records. It took 27 years to complete, involving over 400 painters from five provinces and regions, using natural mineral pigments ground from gold, silver, turquoise, and coral. The scroll slowly unfolds, revealing not only Buddhist stories but also the tales of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng, astronomy and calendrical calculations, Tibetan medicine, and the wedding customs and daily life of the plateau people—like a flowing encyclopedia of Tibet, every stroke a testament to craftsmanship. Walking slowly along the curved exhibition corridor, my gaze lingered on the intricate and delicate paintings, leaving me only with awe. Descending to the folk customs exhibition hall, one is immediately struck by the delightful surprises. The peacock costumes of Alipulan are particularly eye-catching, adorned with layers of turquoise, amber, and coral, magnificent and dignified—treasures passed down through generations. Various Tibetan robes, handmade carpets, Tibetan calligraphy, and Tibetan artifacts are displayed in orderly fashion, their patterns reflecting the diverse lifestyles and nomadic stories of the plateau. Ancient scriptures and scrolls are neatly arranged, the Tibetan script elegant and graceful, embodying the faith and cultural heritage passed down through generations.
Moving to the North Hall, one enters the world of Tibetan medicine, free to visit, a truly unique experience. The hall displays Thangka paintings accompanying the Four Medical Classics, each illustration explaining the human body, embryos, herbs, and treatments; ancient surgical instruments and thousands of plateau medicinal herb specimens are arranged systematically. It turns out that Tibetan medicine is not a mysterious legend, but the wisdom of life discovered by the ancients on the plateau. Tibetan medicinal bathing therapy is a precious treasure listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Throughout the exhibition halls, there is no noise. Listening to the explanations, I finally understood that the civilization of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has never been isolated. Along the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road and the Tea Horse Road, various ethnic cultures met, blended, and nourished each other. The Thangka paintings, medical practices, and clothing we see are all marks left by this exchange and coexistence.
After leisurely exploring the two museums, the setting sun cast its golden rays upon the Tibetan-style buildings. Rather than a rushed tour of scenic spots, here I truly understood the profound and gentle essence of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The plateau is not just about wind and wilderness; it also possesses a vibrant cultural power hidden in ink, textiles, and herbs.
✨Visitor Tips
- Location: Xining Chengbei District Biological Park. The South Hall requires an entrance fee, while the North Hall is free. The two halls are separate and require walking between them.
- Recommended order: South Hall, fourth floor, Grand Painting Exhibition → Continuing down to the Folk Customs and History Exhibition Halls, then to the North Hall to see the Tibetan Medicine Exhibition Area.
- We recommend hiring a guide. Many of the stories behind the Thangka paintings and ancient books can only be understood with an explanation.
- Civilized viewing: Do not touch the exhibits, view the long scrolls quietly, and do not use flash when taking photos.
Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum
M33***4622 October 2026
5.0
As the birthplace and memorial monastery of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, this historical and cultural site, over 600 years old, is a must-see. Photography of the stupa at the entrance is permitted, but not of the Buddha statues inside. The monastery currently houses over 1000 monks and more than a dozen Living Buddhas. While the throngs of worshippers are bustling, the atmosphere is peaceful and serene (perhaps the burning of large incense sticks is not part of the ritual). Many areas allow you to light lamps for blessings (20 yuan per person, depending on your conscience), and there are places to exchange change for prayers. Best of all, there are Chinese-language guided tours, and the guides are very professional; I learned more about Tibetan Buddhism than I did during my previous trip to Lhasa!
Kumbum Monastery
姚思圆7 October 2026
5.0
I went during the National Day Golden Week holiday and stepped into the autumn of the Qilian Mountains. The golden grasslands, the melting snow from the glaciers, and the dense forests were breathtaking. I took photos every step of the way. The only regret was not being able to climb to Tianchi Lake. I will definitely come back next time.
Qilian Mountains Binggou River Scenic Area
Patrick Woodbourne Clarke22 October 2026
5.0
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park is fabulous. One of the top three things I have done on this tour. I used Trip.com to get out to the park and that was very easy. Shuttle buses are necessary to get between the various vantage points. I would come for longer next time and do the zip line. I got an 8am bus from Xiaoxihu Subway Station and it leaves the Park at 12pm to return back to the city.
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
Trip Moments in Yongchang
